Sylvia was until recently Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor (Research Ethics) at Massey University. She has a PhD in Chemistry and for many years taught chemistry and undertook research in structural biology. During the last twenty years she has been extensively involved in research ethics, bioethics and the ethics of assisted reproductive technology. During this period she has been a member of a number of ethics-related committees, including the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee, and has chaired the Massey University Human Ethics Committee and the New Zealand National Ethics Committee on Assisted Human Reproduction. For the last 6 years she has chaired the Advisory Committee to the New Zealand Government on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART). During that period a number of policy proposals by ACART have been accepted by the Government and incorporated into the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act. Sylvia is also a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the conduct of Science and is an auditor for the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit. Sylvia was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998 and in 2008 was promoted to Companion.